Spring Break
The Daily OrangeTEN | Jensen's 'Camp Hell' plans to refine SU's game over break
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 3/6/08, 1:05 AM EST Section: Sports
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Jensen's sub-.500 team will use the time for "spring hardcore training" to refine the basics of Syracuse's game in order to refresh for its final matches of the season.
Syracuse (6-8, 4-2) will practice in Tampa during its 12-day match hiatus before facing Central Florida March 14 and South Florida March 16.
The Orange will split practice time between high school courts, public facilities and college courses while it's in Florida and will be living in condos together.
Jensen said he plans on focusing on every aspect of SU's game on the court and to focus on the team's effort and attitude. The team will still run five miles every day and continue its strength and conditioning training while away from Syracuse.
Many practices will consist of drills that focus on the simple aspects - groundstrokes, volleys and the backhand and forehand strokes - instead of practice matches or sets. Jensen is more concerned about his team's small mistakes, which lead to bigger ones in a match.
Execution has been something Jensen has been preaching to his team, so during "Camp Hell," if anyone fails to execute a shot they have to do sprints. If they miss two shots, there is a longer sprint as a consequence.
"We are going to work on our weaknesses in order to get better," Jensen said. "Everyone has their own little areas they need to fix, and we are going to work on them and fix them this week."
Sophomore Ashley Spicer, a transfer from Washington State, realizes major differences between the programs since she arrived at Syracuse and how the two teams handle Spring Break backs up her argument.
At Washington State, she played a match against Alabama during Spring Break, and at Syracuse she will take place in "Camp Hell," a week of rigorous training.
"It's going to be really tough, but it's going to make us better, and I'm excited for that," Spicer said. "We're in the middle of our season, so a hiatus like this is a great chance to take what we have done so far and have the time to see what we need to work on and have the time to apply that in our practice."
Spicer said the break from doubleheader matches every weekend will give the Orange a chance to rest up and fine tune its skills. She said it is important to work on the basics before the team can build off that to become better.
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